Durango53
04-21-2006, 12:06 PM
http://images.hatworld.com/product/5/20031088/1_107.jpg VS. http://images.hatworld.com/product/5/20031077/1_107.jpg
San Francisco (9-6) at Colorado (8-7), Friday, 7:05 p.m. MT
Here's something to challenge that humidor at Coors Field, right-hander Jason Jennings and any other forces the Rockies might want to muster.
Barry Bonds has had most of the last two days off and is headed to what many consider the best hitter's park in the majors. Maybe it's the right combination for Bonds to finally move a step closer to Babe Ruth.
San Francisco's Barry Bonds hasn't hit a home run in his first 12 games of the season. The longest he's gone without a homer to begin the season is 13 games in 1998, and he went 12 in 1987. After insisting on challenging Bonds, the Rockies decided two years ago to join the rest of baseball and face him only when it's absolutely necessary. That won't change just because of the lack of early homers. The Giants, who are leading the National League West and are a half-game ahead of the Rockies, will begin a three-game series at Coors Field starting on Friday night.
Pitching matchup
SF: RHP Jason Schmidt, 0-2, 4.95 ERAhttp://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/MLB/Headshots/5340.jpg
Schmidt deserved a better fate in his last outing, when he gave up only two runs and three hits over eight innings against the Dodgers in a 3-1 defeat. To his detriment, Schmidt did walk seven batters, which contributed to his downfall.
The Giants (9-6) counter with Jason Schmidt, looking to avoid the first 0-3 start of his 12-year career. Schmidt (0-2, 4.95), who didn't suffer his third loss last season until June 11, has been given only one run of support in each of his two defeats.
The right-hander has run into control problems, walking 12 batters in his last 13 innings. He threw 114 pitches in six innings on Saturday as he walked seven, allowing two runs and three hits in a 3-1 loss at Los Angeles.
Schmidt had been 4-0 lifetime at Coors Field before losing his only start there last season. He's 12-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 22 career games against the Rockies.
COL: RHP Jason Jennings, 1-0, 3.79http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/MLB/Headshots/6785.jpg
Cook had an outstanding outing at home on Sunday against the Phillies, pitching eight innings of one-run ball, while earning the loss in a 1-0 duel with Brett Myers. He forced 15 groundouts against five flyouts, and his only mistake was a fastball that found too much of the plate, leading to a game-winning solo shot by Ryan Howard.
One player who might be unhappy to see Bonds back in the starting lineup is Jason Jennings (1-0, 3.79 ERA), who will start Friday for Colorado. Bonds has hit .391 (9-for-23) with two homers against Jennings and has been walked 10 times by the right-hander.
Colorado (8-7) has won all three of Jennings' starts even though the number of runs he's allowed has gone up with each outing. He did not get a decision on Saturday against Philadelphia as he surrendered four runs and eight hits, including two homers, in six innings of a 10-6 victory.
Player to watch
Matt Holliday is 6-for-18 (.333) with a home run and four RBIs against Schmidt. But Holliday also has struck out six times.
Quote to Note
"He's hit enough of them that I believe the longer he goes without one, he's getting due," said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, whose team is 8-7 going into the final leg of a nine-game homestand. "He can hit a homer.
"He beat us a number of times. I think there will be situational stuff. With nobody on base, we're going to go at him, but with a base open, we're probably not going to deal with him, depending on the score.
"We're going to be smart. If push comes to shove, Bonds will not be given an opportunity to beat us with the bat. He can be somebody else's Rubik's Cube."
Up next
• Saturday: Giants (Brad Hennessey, 1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Rockies (Aaron Cook, 1-2, 3.43 ERA), 6:05 p.m. MT
• Sunday: Giants (Matt Morris, 2-1, 5.03 ERA) vs. Rockies (Jeff Francis, 0-2, 6.75 ERA), 1:05 p.m. MT
• Monday: Rockies (Josh Fogg, 2-0, 3.57 ERA) vs. Phillies (Gavin Floyd, 1-1, 6.23 ERA going into Wednesday night), 5:05 p.m. MT
San Francisco (9-6) at Colorado (8-7), Friday, 7:05 p.m. MT
Here's something to challenge that humidor at Coors Field, right-hander Jason Jennings and any other forces the Rockies might want to muster.
Barry Bonds has had most of the last two days off and is headed to what many consider the best hitter's park in the majors. Maybe it's the right combination for Bonds to finally move a step closer to Babe Ruth.
San Francisco's Barry Bonds hasn't hit a home run in his first 12 games of the season. The longest he's gone without a homer to begin the season is 13 games in 1998, and he went 12 in 1987. After insisting on challenging Bonds, the Rockies decided two years ago to join the rest of baseball and face him only when it's absolutely necessary. That won't change just because of the lack of early homers. The Giants, who are leading the National League West and are a half-game ahead of the Rockies, will begin a three-game series at Coors Field starting on Friday night.
Pitching matchup
SF: RHP Jason Schmidt, 0-2, 4.95 ERAhttp://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/MLB/Headshots/5340.jpg
Schmidt deserved a better fate in his last outing, when he gave up only two runs and three hits over eight innings against the Dodgers in a 3-1 defeat. To his detriment, Schmidt did walk seven batters, which contributed to his downfall.
The Giants (9-6) counter with Jason Schmidt, looking to avoid the first 0-3 start of his 12-year career. Schmidt (0-2, 4.95), who didn't suffer his third loss last season until June 11, has been given only one run of support in each of his two defeats.
The right-hander has run into control problems, walking 12 batters in his last 13 innings. He threw 114 pitches in six innings on Saturday as he walked seven, allowing two runs and three hits in a 3-1 loss at Los Angeles.
Schmidt had been 4-0 lifetime at Coors Field before losing his only start there last season. He's 12-4 with a 3.74 ERA in 22 career games against the Rockies.
COL: RHP Jason Jennings, 1-0, 3.79http://msn.foxsports.com/fe/img/MLB/Headshots/6785.jpg
Cook had an outstanding outing at home on Sunday against the Phillies, pitching eight innings of one-run ball, while earning the loss in a 1-0 duel with Brett Myers. He forced 15 groundouts against five flyouts, and his only mistake was a fastball that found too much of the plate, leading to a game-winning solo shot by Ryan Howard.
One player who might be unhappy to see Bonds back in the starting lineup is Jason Jennings (1-0, 3.79 ERA), who will start Friday for Colorado. Bonds has hit .391 (9-for-23) with two homers against Jennings and has been walked 10 times by the right-hander.
Colorado (8-7) has won all three of Jennings' starts even though the number of runs he's allowed has gone up with each outing. He did not get a decision on Saturday against Philadelphia as he surrendered four runs and eight hits, including two homers, in six innings of a 10-6 victory.
Player to watch
Matt Holliday is 6-for-18 (.333) with a home run and four RBIs against Schmidt. But Holliday also has struck out six times.
Quote to Note
"He's hit enough of them that I believe the longer he goes without one, he's getting due," said Rockies manager Clint Hurdle, whose team is 8-7 going into the final leg of a nine-game homestand. "He can hit a homer.
"He beat us a number of times. I think there will be situational stuff. With nobody on base, we're going to go at him, but with a base open, we're probably not going to deal with him, depending on the score.
"We're going to be smart. If push comes to shove, Bonds will not be given an opportunity to beat us with the bat. He can be somebody else's Rubik's Cube."
Up next
• Saturday: Giants (Brad Hennessey, 1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Rockies (Aaron Cook, 1-2, 3.43 ERA), 6:05 p.m. MT
• Sunday: Giants (Matt Morris, 2-1, 5.03 ERA) vs. Rockies (Jeff Francis, 0-2, 6.75 ERA), 1:05 p.m. MT
• Monday: Rockies (Josh Fogg, 2-0, 3.57 ERA) vs. Phillies (Gavin Floyd, 1-1, 6.23 ERA going into Wednesday night), 5:05 p.m. MT